Exotic handicraft

“Handpan”: the sonorous UFO of musical instruments

Daniel Berger celebrates the tenth anniversary of his company "DEEPAN"(Bild: Evelyn Hronek)

Daniel Berger has been making the now much sought-after handpans in his workshop in Carinthia for ten years. The "Krone" took a look over his shoulder as he worked.

Have you ever heard of a handpan? If not, then you should listen more closely to certain songs, because this metal marvel is now used in many different ways. It is a rhythm instrument, but can also be used to play melodies.

Daniel Berger, a trained electrical engineer, was under constant stress at work before he learned the craft of handpan building. "At some point I realized I had to be at home more; I had to change something! At the same time, a friend told me about a new musical instrument."

Becoming an expert through self-experimentation 
Who invented it? The Swiss. "Ten years ago, you had to send a handwritten letter to the company in Switzerland and they only selected a few from the thousands of letters. Many people went there and camped in front of the company - for free," smiles Berger.

"Just like thousands of people around the world, I was magically drawn to the sound." The "hand pan" is now manufactured all over the world. "I started experimenting on my own in 2013, I learned everything myself - it was really tough. Two years later, I founded my company 'DEEPAN'."

Instruments shipped to America and Japan
It takes a lot of work and finesse to make a handpan like this. "In the beginning, I have to work brutally with an extremely heavy pneumatic hammer, it's physically demanding work." Berger sells around 30 musical instruments a year, mainly in German-speaking countries, but his handpans have also been shipped to Japan and America.

The instrument varies between nine and 22 notes. "I'm the only handpan maker in Carinthia," says Berger proudly and reveals: "I know how to test the harmonies so that they work well, but over time it has become clear that I'm a builder and not a player. I think that's the case with many instrument makers."

The handpan is not just a musical instrument, but an experience that touches the soul. And so we can only hope that this miracle of sound will conquer many more hearts.